G21C NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J)
Description
G21C covers the design, construction, operation, and control of nuclear reactors used for power generation, research, or propulsion. This subclass encompasses reactor types (pressurized water, boiling water, gas-cooled, fast breeder reactors), core designs, fuel elements, coolant systems, and safety mechanisms including containment structures. It includes reactor control systems, neutron moderators, and instrumentation for monitoring reactor performance. Adjacent classes G21D (nuclear fuel elements) and G21F (physical protection of nuclear materials) address specialized fuel and security aspects separately.
12 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- G21C 1/00 Reactor types
- G21C 11/00 Shielding structurally associated with the reactor
- G21C 13/00 Pressure vessels; Containment vessels; Containment in general (for chemical or physical processes B01J3/00; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00)
- G21C 15/00 Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the core; Selection of specific coolants
- G21C 17/00 Monitoring; Testing (measuring in general G01);
- G21C 19/00 Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel
- G21C 21/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of reactors or parts thereof (in general section B, e.g. B23)
- G21C 23/00 Adaptations of reactors to facilitate experimentation or irradiation
- G21C 3/00 Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
- G21C 5/00 Moderator or core structure; Selection of materials for use as moderator
- G21C 7/00 Control of nuclear reaction
- G21C 9/00 Emergency protection arrangements structurally associated with the reactor (emergency cooling arrangements G21C15/18)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION 1,383
- WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION US 1,347
- KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE KR 1,303
- CGN POWER COMPANY 1,156
- CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING COMPANY 1,149
- KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER COMPANY KR 1,146
- NUCLEAR POWER INSTITUTE OF CHINA 1,086
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 765
- CEA (COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE) FR 763
- CHINA INSTITUTE OF ATOMIC ENERGY 659